Name of the Project
Elandsfontein phosphate project.

Location
Saldanha Bay, in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
The Elandsfontein project is held by Kropz (70%), African Rainbow Capital, or ARC (25%) and a smaller empowerment partnership (5%). Ubuntu Botho Investments forms part of the ARC structure.

Project Description
The Elandsfontein phosphate deposit is the largest sedimentary phosphate deposit in South Africa.

The phosphate mineralisation is contained in the Varswater formation, with the phosphate occurring in phosphatised shell fragments and phosphorite pellets. The remainder of the deposit consists of silica sand and calcium oxide.

The project has the capacity to deliver one-million-tonnes a year of phosphate rock concentrate at steady state, with an initial mine life of about 14 years.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated. 

All-in Sustaining Costs/All-in Costs
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
Kropz has spent $120-million to bring its Elandsfontein phosphates mining and processing project into production and requires an additional $16-million to cover its augmentation.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
An appeal hearing against the integrated water-use licence granted to Kropz’s Elandsfontein project has resumed.

The appeal hearing by the Water Tribunal started in December 2019 and a continuance was granted to resume hearings in the first week of February.

To allow for the appropriate opportunity so that the tribunal can fully review the matter, Kropz has said it will not comment further on the official proceedings until the tribunal has announced its decision.

Three days have been scheduled for the hearing. The timing of the decision is currently unknown.

Pending the tribunal's decision, there is no legal impediment to the continuation of the water-use activities authorised in the integrated water-use licence, Kropz has stated.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
DRA (EPCM), Minopex (processing plant operation) and VDM Transport.

Contact Details for Project Information
Kropz, tel +27 21 930 0927 or email info@kropz.com.